Regulating-valve means



April 14, .1959 P. sPENcE 2,881,792

.REGULATING-VALVE: MEANS Original Fied March '7.'4 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1voLr/ws sou/ecs 7 Z3 FIG. 2.

ZSnDentor ,a Panam Spf/vae Citornegs vApril 14, 1959v P. SPENCE2,881,792

REGULATING-VALVE MEANS Original Filed March 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2F|G.5. 8O J0 I y BSZ. V a c I Cttomegs United States Patent O 2,881,792REGULATING-VALVE MEANS Paulsen Spence, Baton Rouge, La.

Original application March 7, 1952, Serial No. 275,275,

now Patent No. 2,787,285, dated April 2, 1957. Ditvs'i'dgegozsnd thisapplication January 31, 1957, Serial No.

Claims. (Cl. IS7-489.5)

My invention relates to pressure-regulating systems and, in particular,to those which must supply relatively large quantities of pressure fluidto a remote load. The present application is a division of my originalapplication, Serial No. 275,275, filed March 7, 1952, now Patent No.2,787,285.

In heating systems for large buildings or for other substantial steamloads, difliculty is often encountered in bringing the system from zeroto full load. In an apartment or oiiice building, for example, theheating plant may be shut down during the night hours; but, when thesteam is first supplied to the system in the morning, the mainregulating valve and all auxiliary regulating valves will demand theutmost flow of steam until the entire system has been supplied. Thisdemand may occasion undesirable transients before the regulating systemreaches equilibrium or some satisfactory operating point. 'I'hesetransients may be the cause of banging or other noise throughout thesupply system, and undue mechanical wear and damage may also result.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improvedpressure-regulating system of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved pressureregulating systemwherein steam may be safely supplied to a large load withoutencountering undue transients.

It is `also an object to provide an improved-pressure regulating systemin which the normal regulating point may be advanced in steppedincrements, so as to permit the subsidence of relatively smalltransients for each increment before advancing to the next increment ofregulated pressure.

It is a further object to provide an improved pressureregulating systemwherein the regulating point is automatically controlled in accordancewith a given change vin a detected physical quantity, as sensed at theload supplied by the said regulating means.

It is a specific object to provide a pressure-regulating means meetingthe above objects and incorporating a timing mechanism assuring thelapse of a pre-selected time between incremental changes in theregulating lpoint of the system.

Another specific object is to provide animproved presl sure-regulatingsystem wherein the rate of ilow of pressure iluid governed by theregulating -means may' determine the regulating point thereof.

yOther objects and various further features ofthe invention will bepointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art lfrom a reading ofthe following specification, in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms ofthe invention: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of important elements of a regulatingsystem incorporating features of the invention, a portion of themain-valve body being cut away and shown in section; 1 Y

Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an alternative regulatingsystem of the invention; and

2,881,792 Patented Apr'. 14, 1959 Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are similarlyschematic, showing still `further alternatives.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates an improvedpressure-regulating system including a main valve and regulating meansfor said main valve. The regulating means may include pressure-operatedpilot-valve means, and I provide automatic preloading means for biasingthe operating point of the regulating means in a sequence of biasingincrements. The pressure-responsive actuating means for the pilot valvemay include a controlpressure connection down-stream from the mainvalve. In one general form of the invention, the automatic preloadingmeans includes means for stepping the bias on the pilot valve in givenbiasing increments at predetermined timing intervals. The timing meansmay be a motor; alternatively, it may be a oat rising in a reservoirthat is being filled at a predetermined rate. In another general form ofthe invention, a given physical quantity characteristic of the iluid atthe load must attain some magnitude before an incremental bias is`applied to the pilot valve. If desired, a flow-rate governor may beincorporated in the system to assure that the regulating systern willnot supply pressure fluid at more than a given rate of flow.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, my invention is shown inapplication to a main valve having a body 10 with an inlet connection 11and an outlet connection 12. The outlet may be connected to a conduit 13for supplying pressure iluid downstream, as to a remote load (notshown). The main-valve structure shown incorporates pressure-operatedpilot means 14 integral with the bonnet 15 thereof. Such structure isshown and described :in greater detail in`my copending patentapplication,

Serial No. 759,809, tiled July 9, 1947, now Patent No. 2,639,556,reference to which may be had for amore complete structural description.

The main valve 10 includes a disc 16 for passing pressure-fluid from theinlet 11 downstream to the conduit 13. Pressure-responsive actuatingmeans for the disc 16 may include a iiexible diaphragm 17. Spring means18 normally urge the valve disc 16 to closed position.

The pilot valve 14 may include a pilot-valve disc 19, normally urgedbycompression spring 20 to an open position, so as to pass high-pressureiluid (from upstream of the main-valve disc 16) past the pilot member 19and via pipe connections 21-22 to the active face of diaphragm 17. Theconnection 23 between pipe 22 and the space over diaphragm 17 mayinclude a Ibleed, and bleed means 24 are also preferably providedbetween one of the connections 21--22 and the downstream or outlet sideof the main valve. Control of the regulating point for the describedelements may be effected by pressure developed in line 25, working overpilot diaphragm 26 and in opposition to the biasing force of spring 20.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the control pressuresupplied inline 25 is derived from a point downstreamfrom the mainvalve, as by the connection shown to the conduit 13; at the same time,means are provided for changing the bias of spring 20 in automaticallycontrolled increments. In the form shown in Fig. l, I employ a so-calledmotor positioner 27 for variously preloading or biasing the spring 20;it suffices to say that the device 27 includes motor or timing means 28for determining intervals at which the actuating stern 29 will be drivendownwardly and in incrementally greater biasing relation with the spring20. The motor positioner shown has ve positions and, therefore, adjuststhe load on thev biasing means 20 in corresponding incremental steps, asindicated by an external arm 30, which may swing with each step toindicate the point at which the system is operatingat any given time.

In operation, a heating system equipped with the deaaljibed dVQ will,when f-celd, have the relation of .parts shown- Whensteamundsrhishrressrreis.first delivered to the main valve at inlet 11, themotor 28 must be started. High-pressure steam will be admitted pastpilot-valve member .19 and ydelivered ft@ the diaphragm :1L was t0 openthe main-valve member 16. The .nitial netting j.0f the motorV`positioner 27 .will produce a ,relatively ,light -biasing .10ad at v29 .on 1the .spring 2.0., so that the lvalve willA bejregulated about arelatively low-pressure .,point, bymeans of the downstreamcontrolpressurepickfup at 25.

After the lapse of a given interval .of time, as .determined by .a motor-(28) ,setting appropriate .to thesystem being :supplied by theregulating means .of Fig. .1, thepositioner27 .will be automaticallyoperated, to Iproject yits .actuating stem 29 .downwardly by,.arelatively small increment, thereby increasing the load ,on Aspring 20and determining a correspondinglyrhigher regulating pressure. Wit-hgthisprojectionfof ,stem 29,'thegindicatorb30 may be advaneedto thesecOndstep, .opposite the lxnarktl.

.After .a further lapse .of time, V.as .determined by an `appropriatesettingof the motor 28, the .stem 29 will be automatically Vfurtherdepressed sov as again :to raise the regulating point of the system byapredeterrnined incremental amount. The ,process will be automatically.repeated for each motor-.controlled advance .of the posi- .tioner ,27until such time :as the full-load zoperating.point is reached. For mostsatisfactory operation, ,it willbe understood that the number ofincremental -advances .pro -vided by the positioner 27 should beadequate 'for the load system to be supplied by the regulating. .means;in other words, each increase ,in regulated A.pressure (foreach bias-:ing increment determined by thenpositioner 27) is .preferably ,anrincrement that can v be smoothly handled by the system.

In -Fig. 2, I ,show an alternativearrangementin which pressure Suppliedto a given load 3:5 fis brought .up in step increments, in accordancewith -the ability` of that load to absorbfeach new increment .ofpressure; only Vwhen there has been a preselected .absorption vofr each.new .pressure change will theA regulating Asystem be incretmentallychanged to permit a further charge to the load. The regulating meansmay, in general, resemble that discussed above in connection with Fig.l; thus, main valve 36 may be supplied `with high-pressure steam vataninlet 37, and regulated pressure to the load may be delivered `in adownstream or outlet .line v38. An .integral pilot .3 9 may becontrolled by downstream pressure, as picked oli .by line 40.Pilot-controlled pressures rfor actuating the :diaphragm of valve 3 6may be l conveyed by `lines .21' ,f 22' and24'., correspondingto theparts 21- 2224 -of Fig. 1.

The pilot valve 3 9 may include biasing .means .41 in ztheliorm of aspringto be variously preloaded. The preloadingmeans schematically shownincludesa rocker 4 2,

riveted at :43 ,and having :one end in loading relation `with the 'SPrDg.4.1. j The other end of rocker 4 2 may. carry an arc of ratchetteethA44,.1and pawlmeans 45 may hold La ,givenlatcheted vposition fof rocker42. Solenoid means .4 6 `is shown for producinggincremental ratchetedadvances of the .rocker 42 and, therefore, incremental loading of thespring v41.

Atzthe load end o f thesystem, I provide sensing means responsive :tosome physical quantity that is characteristicoforresponsive to eachincremental-charge of steam. :Such fmeans may be athermostatically-operated device, butin the form shown I employpressure-responsive means 47, such as a diaphragm loadedby aspring/AS.

Variousmeansmay be employedftotranslate preselected .displacements ofdiaphragm -47 ;into ratcheted advances iin :the preload setting ofrocker42, `buteintherform lshown VIVhave `employed an electrical null-findingsystem. The fnull-iinding system may employ anvelectrical. bridgeconlsisting of :similar yimpedan'ces -49--50 supplied by'a .com-

monsource. Contact arms 51--52 (connected trespecnected lto operateVuponA attainment of'a preselected electrical unbalance in the bridge.

In operation, the arm 42 will rst have been set for the lightest preloadon spring 41, so that valve 36 will be regulated at a relatively ,lowoperating point. Only relatively low-pressure steam will then be allowedto pass in line 38 to load 35. 'When attainment ofthis low pressure issensedby the diaphragm 47 and follower arm 51, there will be su'lc'ientelectrical unbalance in the bridge v49---50 to zactuate .solenoid .46.and .thus .incrementallyto advance the operating point of valve 36.This incremental loading cycle will -be repeated with veach new chargeof pressure lluid to the load and until such time ais-'theload has lbeenbroughtiup to full pressure, as will be understood.

In Fig. 3, I schematically show a further modification incorporatingfeatures of the invention. In the arrangement `of Eig. 3, 4.thevregulating pointfor .main valve 55 is determined .by two pressure)pilots 5 6-57 .connected in seriescontrolling relation .withtheldiaphragm of the main valve, and deriving. their Sensing pressuresacross a throttlingmeans 5 8. The throttfling means 58 maybe providedbetween the main valve S5 land the load 5,9.. Thus, .thepressurefres'ponsive actuating meansofone pilot valve (5.6) may .beconnected by line60 .to .a point intermediate tO'mainvaIve'SS vandthethrottling means, andthe yother pressure `.pilot 5 7 may Ibe.similarly Iconnected..by line6 1 to the downstream side of thethrottling means.`

It will beseen that .the zfirst pilot 56 may serve the function oflimitingdevelopment .of transiently high .pressures between the mainvalve .5S and (the throttle oriee,while the .second pilotvalve 57 mayAserve the function o fultimately regulating the .valve 5 5, inaccordance with ,de-

liveredpressure, that is, pressuredelivered to .the load 59. Thisdelivered pressure .may represent .one of; a vv,series lof .inerementaladvances ina successionlof pressuresinvolved in bringing the system upto full-pressure operation, and in the form'shown I have employed a.motor positionerQ27 .similar ,to thatdescribed in Fig lforgautomatcallyladvancing the preloaded condition of spring means 6.2inithe pilot valve :57.

'The construction. of Fig. 4 generally resembles `that .of Fig.,3 andcorresponding parts have therefore been given v,the same referencenumbers. In Fig. 4, however, theiirst pilot 56 is adifferential-pressure. pilot and has .beenemployed to limit a givenregulating point yfor the main valve 55, infaccordance with the rate 0fow of steam gpassing the throttling vmeans 58. This high-pressure side.ofthe actuating means for pilot valve 56' may be connected by vline .60 lto, a vpoint intermediate the main valve` 55 andgthe throttlingmeansSS, and-the lowpressure sidethereoffmay be `connected "byline 6 3,to .the downstream sidebfj'the throttling means 58.

In Fig. 5, I show sulla-further embodimentpo-the invention where .thegradual and-progressive build-.up of -stearnlsupplied by regulatingvalve 165 is automatically governednot onlyinaccordance-withatiminglnechanism but ,alsoinaccordance with the actual absorptionofenergy by the load. In Fig. 5 the load is schematically designated at66 where pressure-responsive means, such fas a diaphragm 67, is located,in order to sense the-.deliveredpressure.

The regulating valve ,.65 may be as describedinlig. 1; that is, it may,.iu'clude Va pressure-pilot 68 integral with the valve bonnet :andutilize downstream pressure, sampled byline 69, .to regulate .the valveabout apart-icular point `determinedby thercompressional ,loadingtit-spring ,70. A

device v.7 1.is provided for inerementallyloading-the spring 70, but,unlike the device 27 of Fig. 1, thefdevice 71 is operated :through .thecombined control of a timer. and Vofthe delivered pressure, as-.sensed:at 67. l

In the form Yshown, :the timer is hydraulically'operated and includes avessel 72 with meansf73 for controlled gradual admission `of A.water .orAother fluid into the vessel 72. A tloat 74 is supported for guidedvertical movement in accordance with the rising lluid level in vessel72, and is in actuating relation with a beam 75 pivoted at 76. The beam75 serves for differentially combining the response of the timing means72-73-74 with the response of the pressure-sensing means 67. If thetiming means should `be located near the regulating valve or at leastremote from the pressure-sensing means 67, then I may employ anincompressible-fluid line 77 to relay the position or pressure ondiaphragm 67 through a further diaphragm 78 for Idisplacement of a stem79 in opposition to the force derived from float 74. A collar 80 on stem79 may be carried with movement of stem 79 and poised to actuate the arm81 of an electric switch 82 upon attainment of a given down position.The switch 82 is shown in electrical controlling relation with thespring-tensioning device 71, and the arrangement is such that for eachactuation of switch 82 the device 71 is stepped by one increment so asto provide a correspondingly increased compressional force againstspring 70.

In operation, beginning with a cold system, the vessel 72 will have beendrained to a low level, and water or other iluid will be introduced bymeans 73 at the desired control rate. Spring-tensioning device 71 willhave been adjusted for minimum bias so that valve 65 regulates about itslowest point, supplying relative low pressure to the load I66. As theload 66 absorbs the received pressure, diaphragm 78 will raise stem 79against the buoyancy of iloat 74; and, should this occur prior to thelapse of a predetermined sufficient time, then nothing further willhappen until the suicient time has elapsed, so as to exert a suflicientbuoyant force on oat 74 to depress the collar 80 against diaphragm 78until switch 82 is actuated. Device 71 will immediately respond toadvance the preload of spring 70 to the next stepped position, and thevalve 65 will be regulated to deliver another increment of pressure tothe load 66. Again, pressure-responsive means 78 will raise stern 79against the buoyancy of float 74 as pressure is received at the `load66, and only when there has been 4the desired lapse of time will thebeam 75 be rocked to actuate switch 82 for initiation of the next cycleof increased regulating pressure. The process will repeat until the fullpressure has been supplied to the load, lat which time the timing means73 may be turned olf and the vessel 72 emptied in readiness for the nextneed to supply a cold system.

It will be appreciated that I have described relatively simple means forestablishing the safe and progressive pressurizing of a load,particularly of a large load located remotely from a high-pressure steamsupply system. The incremental build-up of steam pressure in the systemmay be governed purely by timing means or purely by the actual deliveredpressure, or differentially by both.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred formsshown, it will be understood that modications may be made within thescope of the invention as detned by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a pressure-regulating system of the character indicated, a mainvalve, regulating means for said main valve and including a pilot valve,said pilot valve including a control-pressure connection downstream fromsaid main valve, load means downstream from said main valve forreceiving fluid passed downstream by said main valve, and biasing meansincluding resilient loading means for said pilot valve, whereby theregulated point of said main valve may be determined; said biasing meansincluding electrical means electrically responsive to a given physicalcharacteristic at said load, and a biasing motor connected to saidelectrically responsive means and in variable loading relation with saidloading means.

2. In a pressure-regulating system of the character indicated, a mainvalve, regulating means for said main valve and including a pilot valve,pressure-responsive actuating means for said pilot valve and including acontrol-pressure connection downstream from said main valve, biasingmeans for said pilot valve, load means downstream `from said main valveand connected for supply by said main valve, and feed-back meansresponsive to a physical characteristic at said load means and invariable biasing relation with said biasing means.

3. In a pressure-regulating system of the character indicated, a mainvalve, regulating means for said main valve and including a pilot valve,pressure-responsive actuating means for said pilot valve and including acontrolpressure connection downstream from said main valve, biasingmeans for said actuating means, and pressure-responsive means forvarying the bias of said biasing means in response to attainment of agiven pressure increment at a load supplied by said main valve.

4. A system according to claim 3, in which said lastdelned meansincludes an electrically operated null- -nding system, and in whichmeans responsive to a given increment of electrica-l unbalance in saidnull-finding system is connected in actuating relation with said biasingmeans.

5. In a pressure-regulating system, a main valve, regulating means forsaid valve and including a pilot valve, pressure-responsive actuatingmeans yfor said pilot valve and including a control-pressure connectiondownstream from said main valve, biasing means for said actuating means,load means downstream from said control-pressure connection andconnected for supply by said main valve, a pressure-responsive elementconnected to said load means, timing mechanism for varying the controllevel of said pressure-responsive element as a function of time, andmeans responsive to said varied control level for varying the effectivebias of said biasing means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

